City to lose nearly $1 million in bus service funding

A change in the fine print for federal funding will cost Annapolis Transit nearly $1 million in the next two years, leaving city officials scrambling to find a way to make up the lost money.

The $850,000 loss -- about 20 percent of the $4.5 million annual budget for the city bus service -- comes in the wake of skyrocketing fuel and maintenance costs. And a report by the city Transportation Board released yesterday said the ill timing paints a grim future for the city's public transportation system.

Board member Charles Weikel said just maintaining current levels of service could become a problem and cutbacks are...